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Chase Freedom Flex: Top 5% Categories for Cash Back in 2025

The Chase Freedom Flex® remains one of the best credit cards for those who are smart about their cash back rewards. With its 5% cash back categories that rotate each quarter, cardholders stand to realize some serious returns on their everyday spending. As we move through 2025, using and capitalizing on these categories can translate into big savings. ​

The 5% Rotating Categories explained So lets back up just a bit to explain those 5% rotating categories.

The Chase Freedom Flex® is known in particular for its quarterly rotating 5% cash back categories. Every quarter, Chase announces eligible spending categories that cardholders can receive 5% cash back on when they spend up to $1,500 in combined purchases, after activation. It’s this structure that incentivizes cardholders to change up their spending behavior to be in line with the bonus categories at any given time, and therefore get as much value as possible out of these reward opportunities. ​

Q1 2025: Across Press Categories

For Q1 2025, Chase has announced a varied offering of categories:

Grocery Stores: Whether you are getting essentials for your home or preparing for a party, regular trips to the grocery store are the norm in most households. ​Norwegian Cruise Line: Ready to escape? Sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line just got MORE rewarding!
Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships: Get a head start on your health goals and earn rewards at the same time. ​
Hair, Nails & Spa Services: Pamper yourself with cash back rewards.

The categories are a mix of everyday essentials and lifestyle upgrades, giving cardholders many opportunities to earn rewards.

Ways to get the Most Out of Your Membership Rewards Points

How to maximize the 5% cash back categories:

  1. Prepare Ahead: Estimate what you are going to spend for the next quarter and determine which category in which it best fits. ​
  2. Activate Before Q Starts: Be sure you activate the bonus categories at the beginning of the quarter to get the full earning window. ​
  3. Aggregating Spending: Make the most of those $1,500 limits with spending on the bonus categories on your Chase Freedom Flex® card. ​
  4. Keep track of your spending: I frequently check my spending to help me not go over budget and plan for the next quarter. ​

 

Comments Have you heard of 5%? Other Earning Options

Though the rotating categories are the cards’ star selling point, the Chase Freedom Flex® also offers unlimited rewards for other spending categories: ​

 

  • 5% on Approved Travel: Get 5% back on travel approved by Chase Ultimate Rewards®. ​
  • 3% on Dining: Dine out or in – and when you order takeout and at eligible delivery service, you’ll get 3% cash back. ​
  • 3% Back on Drugstore Purchases: From prescriptions to personal care, get rewards on your health-related purchases. ​
  • 1% on All Other Purchases: Keep earning a flat 1% cash back on all other spending. ​
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This all-encompassing rewards system makes it so cardholders can reap the rewards across several spending categories. ​

More Card Benefits

Cash back isn’t all Chase Freedom Flex® is about. It also comes with a range of perks meant to improve the experience for cardholders:

  • Cell Phone Protection: Pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card and get reimbursed for damage or theft for up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year. ​
  • Purchase Protection: New purchases are covered 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim. ​
  • Extended Warranty: The eligible warranty you have purchased may have an extended warranty of one (1) year on eligible warranties of 3 years or less. ​
  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage: Receive reimbursement of up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fare, if your trip is canceled or cut short due to covered situations. ​
  • Zero Liability Protection: You are not responsible for unauthorized use of your Card. ​

    These advantages offer cardholders security in a variety of situations. ​

Seamless Redemption Options

Cash back redemption is easy and there are no minimum redemption requirements:​

  • Statement Credits/Deposit to U.S. Bank Account: Redeem your rewards as account credits, or direct deposits to U.S. checking or savings accounts. ​
  • Gift Cards: Select from shopping, dining, and entertainment gift cards. ​
  • Travel: Redeem your rewards for travel on Chase Ultimate Rewards® with competitive rates and the flexibility to pay with a combination of points and a payment card. ​
  • Amazon purchases: Just link your card to your Amazon account and use your rewards at checkout. ​

    This flexibility allows you to redeem your rewards in a way that works for you. ​

Final Thoughts

In a crowded room filled with credit cards, the Chase Freedom Flex® card is the silver-raptor; its rewards program moves with the times, blowing with the wind of what consumers need. If you keep track of the rotating 5% cash back categories and don’t mind a little work, you can earn a ton of cash back throughout the year by making sure you spend in the categories to get t he most for your money.